Melville loftin



M. LOFTIN. NAIL FULLER (No Model.)

Patented Mar. 29, 1892.

N VE N TOR 7p/%W B Y A TTOHNE YS WITNESSES Wad/44 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVILLE LOFTIN, OF HILDRETI-I, ILLINOIS.

NAIL-PU LLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,873, dated March 29, 1892.

Application filed June 23, 1891- Serial No. 397,184. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MELVILLE LOFTIN, of Hildreth, in the county of Edgar and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Nail-Puller, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved nail-puller which is simple and durable in construction, easily manipulated, conveniently pulls nails, extracts staples, and which is useful in removing wire from fences, sealing-strips from boxes, hoops,

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement as applied for pulling nails on the edge of a box. Fig. 2 is alike view of the improvement as applied for pulling nails located at a distance away from the edge of the box. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, with parts in section, of the improvement as applied for extracting staples to remove fence-Wire; and Fig. 4 is a perspective 'view of the improvement in an open position.

The improved nail-puller is provided with a claw-hammer A of any approved construction, having a body B, from which extends the head 0 proper in one direction and the claws D in the opposite direction. A handle E is fastened to the bodyB for manipulating the hammer. On the shank of the hammerbody B is arranged a transversely-extendin g pivot F, on which is pivoted an arm G, preferably made in fork shape, as is plainly illustrated in Fig. 4:, the said arm extending in opposite directions from the fulcrum to form the straight end H and the angle-point I, located at the opposite end; The point I extends outwardly at an obtuse angle from the arm, as is plainly illustrated in the drawings. The end H is open, as'is plainly shown, so that the this'case the arm G is held in a upright posi-- tion, with the straight end H engaging the side of the box, the claws D of the hammer engaging the nail, the bottom of the claws restingon top of the box. The operator now holds the arm G in a fixed position by taking hold at or near its upper end, and by then swinging the handle E in the direction of the arrow a a pull is exerted by the claws D on the nail, so that the latter is conveniently loosened and can be readily withdrawn by a further swinging motion of the claw-ham mer in the direction indicated. It is understood that by holding the arm G in a fixed positionthe claw-hammer turns on the arm, the pivot F being the fulcrum. When it is desired to remove a nail located away from the edge of the box or other place, then the arm G is swung into the position illustrated in Fig. 2 that is, the angular point I is engaged with the top of the box, while the claws D engage the nail. By pulling on the handle E in the direction of the arrow at the nail is readily Withdrawn or pulled, the arm G being held in a fixed position by the angular point I, engaging the material of the box.

For removing staples from fence-posts, in order to remove fence-wire, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the device is used in a manner similar to that above described in reference to Fig. 2, the only difference being that the arm G is arranged in a vertical position, but engages the posts by means of the angular point I to hold the arm G in position while the clawhammer A is actuated to withdrawthe staple.

It is understood that for removing bands, hoops, strips, &c.,'from boxes, barrels, and the like the device is used in a similar manner to that above described, and illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the claws D passing underneath the strip, hoop, or band, with the angular point I of the arm H fixed to the article carrying the hoop, band, or strip.

Having thus described my invention, I arm, and apoint formed on the other end of IO claim as new and desire to secure by Letters the said arm and extending outwardly at an Patent obtuse angle from the said arm, substantially A nail-puller comprising a handled clawas shown and described.

' 5 hammer, an arm pivoted on the sides of the hammer-body and extendingin opposite direc- MELVILLE L OFTIN.

tions from its fulcrum, the'said arm being Witnesses: forked and its open end straight to permit of JAMES K. MASON,

turning the hammer-body within the said i FRED HOOVER. 

